Feature Archives

Thousands of fish are stranded on Prospect Island, located on the northern section of Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, due to the draining of the island by a contractor hired by the Bureau of Reclamation. As of November 21st, striped bass make up the vast majority of the fish seen stranded on the island. Endangered and threatened species, including Delta smelt, salmon and steelhead, are expected to perish soon unless a fish rescue is conducted.

Students at Fresno City College held a Free Speech celebration today. They are fighting for the right to hand out flyers to their fellow students, read poetry that is not censored, and to hold a banner for whatever cause they believe in.

As the largest private sector union organizing drive in Fresno’s history get underway, Community Medical Center (CMC) is being asked to agree to hold free and fair elections. CMC management has rejected the proposal for free and fair elections and has instead hired a union-busting firm that has implemented policies that threaten and intimidate union supporters. Unfair labor practice charges have been filed against CMC. On October 17 several CMC workers testified at a public hearing about what is going on at their workplace. This article is about the public hearing held by the Fresno Fair Election Commission to listen to the workers concerns.

On September 27th, the jury in the case of United States vs. Eric McDavid returned a verdict of "guilty." Eric faces five to twenty years in federal prison. His fellow defendants had accepted plea deals from the government and testified in the case. McDavid's lawyer argued that he was a victim of entrapment by "Anna" because of the money and help that she had provided. The sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, December 6th. Sacramento Prisoner Support is asking that people continue to call the jail and request that Eric be given vegan food.

On September 11th, supporters learned that Eric McDavid has been given commissary again. This is seen as "the first step towards a stable vegan diet for Eric." Supporters are asked to continue to call the jail to request that Eric be given vegan meals. In court on September 11th, US Attorney Steve Lapham asked questions of the government informant known as "Anna," who was sworn in without her name being spoken out loud. The trial will continue on Monday, September 17th at 9am.

On Sunday, September 9th, the day before Eric McDavid's trial began, Sacramento Prisoner Support learned that the Sacramento County Jail has cut off Eric's commissary. When he did not receive the items that he expected, Eric checked the jail's lists to see if he had any money in his account-- his name was not on the list. Since the jail stopped bringing Eric vegan meals, commissary was his only opportunity to get a few more dietary essentials beyond the fruit and bread that he receives in his meals.

Peace groups in Fresno unite in strategic effort to target Democratic Representative Jim Costa to stop funding the war & occupation in Iraq.